March 27 / 16.53 Wexford

16.53

Heavy

visitwexford.ie Beginners Chase

  • Prize money: £5643.48
  • 3m 1f 100y
  • 4 runners
RTV
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visitwexford.ie Beginners Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 60-022

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won his first four races as a juvenile hurdler in 2020, including a Grade 2 Cheltenham contest; career did not progress as expected; ran only twice in 2023; promising second on chase debut in a beginners' at Punchestown last month with Klarc Kent 2l away in third; another good run behind the Mullins-trained Aime Desjy at Gowran; can uphold form now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Duffle Coat

10st 13lb

J: James Smith

T: Gordon Elliott

Sole win over fences came in 3m Mayo National in 2024 on good ground; good second in Galway Plate that summer but last year's form was poor; pulled up after never counting on return from long absence in Irish National; hard to be confident in although has ground to suit.

20/1

9th

11

24th Sep 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 7f 180y

16:23 Listowel

Duffle Coat

11st 0lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

1-17 over fences; out of form since second in last season's Galway Plate; failed to feature in this year's edition; trainer has stronger candidates.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: P6-3F3

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner at Clonmel a year ago; switched to chasing after only two outings over hurdles; remote third of four finishers behind subsequent Brown Advisory runner-up Monty's Star at Punchestown; fell two out when 66-1 chance in strong Navan contest; 2l behind today's rival Duffle Coat at Punchestown.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Klarc Kent

10st 2lb

J: Kieran Callaghan

T: W P Mullins

0-14 since bumper win in 2022; fourth and second in the last two Scottish Nationals, latterly off a reduced mark when wearing second-time cheekpieces two weeks ago; while that was a welcome return to form, position 12lb out of the handicap today demands so much more; 5lb claimer is called up.

25/1

18

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Klarc Kent

10st 2lb

J: Kieran Callaghan

T: W P Mullins

0-14 since bumper win in 2022; fourth and second in the last two Scottish Nationals, latterly off a reduced mark when wearing second-time cheekpieces two weeks ago; while that was a welcome return to form, position 12lb out of the handicap today demands so much more; 5lb claimer is called up.

25/1

2nd

21

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Klarc Kent

10st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: W P Mullins

Won a bumper three years ago but 0-13 since; competitive over fences last season and his 6l fourth at 50-1 in this race (soft; 8lb lower today) last April reads well, but a poor sequence since was not greatly improved by his eighth when wearing first-time cheekpieces in last month's 3m6f NH Chase.

20/1

Form: 89F11

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner; looked set to win 2m3f maiden hurdle at Limerick in December only to fall two out; made amends in good style over 2m4f at Fairyhouse; looked very much at home on heavy ground in Grade 2 contest over an extended 3m at Haydock, beating a 121-rated mare by 17 lengths; could be hard to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Now Is The Hour

11st 7lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Second-season novice who has improved significantly of late, winning Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park (3m1f handicap, heavy) in January; something of a fortunate winner that day and needs to improve again.

40/1

1st

13

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

15:30 Gowran Park

Now Is The Hour

11st 1lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Gavin Cromwell

Grade 2 winner over hurdles; 0-9 over fences but might have given Haiti Couleurs something to think about in the 3m6f National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham had he not come down two out; no show in the Irish National; good third to Final Demand in Navan beginners' on return; only midfield in the 3m5f Porterstown before a better effort when fourth in the Paddy Power.

9/1

15

21st Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

3m 5f 37y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Now Is The Hour

10st 13lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Gavin Cromwell

2023 point winner; won a 3m Grade 2 novice hurdle on heavy at Haydock last season; shaped promisingly on fourth chase start, when not far off today's rival Kinturk Kalanisi and subsequent Scottish National winner Captain Cody at Navan; around two lengths off Haiti Couleurs when falling at the second-last at Cheltenham; a leading contender.

6/1

Form: P/019P

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winner of three point-to-points; big-priced winner of modest Limerick maiden hurdle at Christmas; has made little impact in three chase runs, including when proving difficult to steer at Cork in January; up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

31st May 2024

Soft

2m 5f 180y

17:20 Tramore

Aghmorough Bridge

11st 5lb

J: J J Slevin

T: William P Murphy

Three-time point winner; won over hurdles over Christmas but lost her way since; tough ask here; blinkers on.

20/1

14th

5

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 120y

17:05 Cork

Aghmorough Bridge

11st 12lb

J: Miss M M McElligott

T: William P Murphy

towards rear

25/1

14th

5

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 120y

17:05 Cork

Aghmorough Bridge

11st 12lb

J: Miss M M McElligott

T: William P Murphy

towards rear

25/1

Verdict

Perhaps a surprise to see NOW IS THE HOUR launched over fences so soon after a Grade 2 novice hurdle win but he is a smart recruit. Duffle Coat seems to have been rejuvenated by chasing and can confirm Punchestown form with Klarc Kent. [Alan Sweetman]